by Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press

by Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press

Rep. Justin Amash, a firebrand libertarian who was looking at entering the Republican field to replace Democratic Sen. Carl Levin next year, apparently won't be running.

After the National Journal on Tuesday night cited unnamed sources close to Amash as saying he would not enter the race, the congressman tweeted a link to the story and said he loves his district and was excited about the work he is doing in the U.S. House.

Amash was widely thought to be considering a race for the seat when Levin announced in March he would not run for a seventh term next year.

Even though Amash he is only in his second term as a member of the House, he has made a name for himself in Washington, bucking Republican leaders and championing efforts to restrain the National Security Agency's surveillance methods and blocking any move toward a military response to Syrian chemical weapons attacks.

A statewide run would have been a tall order - or at least there were polls indicating that could be the case. A poll released by Public Policy Polling in June showed that 70% of respondents were unsure whether to give Amash a favorable or unfavorable rating, a potential indicator of a lack of statewide name recognition.

Even Amash had acknowledged that any fight could be a tough one. He was quoted by Politicoas telling Republican picnickers in Michigan that "this is a Democratic state, still, and for a Republican to win a Senate race you have to have a very good year for Republicans."

His departure from the race benefits the only well-known Republican who has entered the field - former Michigan secretary of State Terri Lynn Land. A recent poll by EPIC-MRA in Lansing had her in a virtual tie with Rep. Gary Peters, the only high-profile Democrat to enter the race.